The next morning at 6:40, Xu Qinghe woke up the moment Shi Wenli called her for the first time. She was both sleepy and excited. After washing her face, she finally became fully awake. Because it had been so late the night before, after they decided on a flash marriage and getting the certificate, they didn't talk much more.
When she came out of the bathroom, Shi Wenli had already packed up the breakfast he had made. Today he had made her a sandwich. "What time did you finally fall asleep last night?" he asked, looking at her while putting on his coat.
Xu Qinghe wound her scarf slowly, not knowing exactly when she had fallen asleep herself. "I didn't look at my phone after chatting with you."
After responding last night that they would get the certificate after meeting her parents, Shi Wenli realized that a flash marriage would have its regrets. "If we flash marry, the proposal would be very rushed." If they took it slow like now, by April or May when they went public, their relationship would be stable by then, and he could prepare a proposal that might not be grand but would definitely make her happy. But if they flash married, and she decided not to go public for now, he couldn't even prepare well.
Hearing this, Xu Qinghe was very tempted by his proposal. Being confessed to in front of so many people—just thinking about it made her happy. But since she had chosen a flash marriage, she couldn't have everything. "I imagined your proposal. That day I would definitely be extremely happy. Just consider it done."
Shi Wenli laughed. This was the first time he had heard such a novel idea. "How can that count as having proposed?" He glanced at his watch; it was time to leave. "Let's go. Let's talk on the way."
Xu Qinghe put her breakfast into her bag. As they left, she had her bag tucked under one arm and was about to take Shi Wenli's arm, but he had already extended his hand to hold hers. Xu Qinghe quietly steadied her breathing and brought up the matter of meeting her parents. "No need to meet them before getting the certificate. My parents said that marriage is our business and doesn't require anyone's approval."
Shi Wenli said, "Living in the same neighborhood, we have to meet." They entered the elevator, and he discussed the specific date for getting the certificate with her. "Before the New Year or after?" He turned to look at her.
Xu Qinghe answered without hesitation: "Before the New Year." Although it was a bit hard to say, she didn't plan to hide it. "You move on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. If we get the certificate, I won't have to live apart from you. Living together makes it convenient to see each other and talk every day. After work, neither of us has to wait specifically for the other."
What she said was exactly what Shi Wenli had been worried about. "Then let's get the certificate before you move. I'll pick a good day when I'm not busy at noon."
Xu Qinghe responded, "Okay."
Like the first time they held hands, their heartbeats accelerated silently in the confined space. A week ago, she wouldn't have dared to dream that she and Shi Wenli would complete blind dating, meeting parents, and getting a certificate all within a month.
On the way to the hospital, she told Shi Wenli that the romance novel from last night needed a new title. Shi Wenli played along and asked what she planned to change it to. She said, "Change it to 'My Hidden Marriage Life with Director Shi.'" Shi Wenli chuckled softly.
After the joke, the awkward atmosphere between them that had lingered since deciding to flash marry finally eased.
When they arrived at the hospital parking lot, Shi Wenli had just parked when the door of the car in the diagonally opposite space opened. Jiang Yang's long leg hit the ground. Before he was fully out of the car, his voice arrived first: "Morning, Brother Shi."
Xu Qinghe had to get out of the car calmly and greet him as if nothing was unusual. "So early today?"
"Ah, don't even mention it. All thanks to my dad. He got a call early this morning and walked past my room. His voice was so loud it woke me up." Otherwise, he could have slept ten more minutes. Jiang Yang yawned and got out of the car carrying a bag of bread slices. He showed no reaction to Xu Qinghe getting out of Shi Wenli's car.
The three of them walked toward the main building, with Jiang Yang in the middle. "Brother Shi, I started a small housewarming group and already notified them of the day you're moving."
"..."
"Just move in. Leave the rest to me."
Shi Wenli wasn't in the group, so he asked, "Who did you notify?"
Jiang Yang: "The bridesmaids and President Min's best man." He turned to Xu Qinghe. "Sis, you don't know when Brother Shi is moving yet, right?"
"I do. Director Shi told me." True to being good friends, he knew so quickly.
"Sis, you have to come that day no matter how busy you are." He wanted to set her up.
Xu Qinghe smiled. "Since it's Director Shi's housewarming, I definitely have to come." She changed the subject and asked how Tao Han's father was doing.
Jiang Yang: "Still unconscious. But his vital signs are relatively stable."
Xu Qinghe suddenly remembered that she hadn't told Shi Wenli about this yet. She slightly leaned over Jiang Yang to look at him. "Oh, by the way, Tao Han's stress and insomnia are because of her father. He had open-chest surgery yesterday. We only found out before the surgery that the patient's daughter was named Tao Han, and the age and name matched. I forgot to tell you when you came back last night."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had let something slip. For a moment, her heart inexplicably raced. Luckily, Jiang Yang seemed to be thinking about his own matters and didn't pay much attention.
Shi Wenli patted Jiang Yang and switched places with him. With no one between them, she no longer had to twist her neck to talk.
Shi Wenli said, "No wonder she looked so bad. When her dad is transferred out of the ICU, I'll go check on him." He asked again, "Who was the lead surgeon? Director Gu?"
"Yes."
Chatting, they entered the main building. The security guard at the entrance noticed that Shi Wenli had been coming and going with Xu Qinghe quite often recently. The guard didn't know about their private relationship. Since many doctors in the hospital were dating or married across departments, the guard assumed these two were in a relationship.
When Xu Qinghe reached her office, she took out the sandwich and fresh milk. Not only Fang Yu, but several colleagues in the office noticed that her breakfast had started to vary. "Dr. Xu, how come your dad suddenly started making you different breakfasts?" Her breakfast had been the same for years, and the change was baffling.
Xu Qinghe said, "He probably thought I was eating too poorly before."
Fang Yu sighed. When would her dad ever have that kind of insight?
--
Shi Wenli's clinic didn't end until 12:30. After eating lunch and returning to the office, he opened his calendar to pick a suitable date. There were only a little over ten days left in January. The only date he thought was good was January 29th. He marked it in red, took a screenshot, and sent it to Xu Qinghe.
Xu Qinghe really liked that day. It happened to be their two-week anniversary since they got together. She replied to Shi Wenli: [I'll switch shifts with a colleague ahead of time that day.] Then she immediately shared the good news in the family group chat, and also copied it to her best friend: [Shi Wenli and I decided to get our marriage certificate on January 29th.]
Song Xintan: [What kind of new test is this? Is there an answer key? Don't jump down my throat if I get it wrong.]
Xu Qinghe: [Who's jumping down your throat!]
Song Xintan: [Fine, I'm jumping down my own throat.] He thought for a moment and tentatively typed an answer: [If you really want to get married that day, I'll tie Shi Wenli up and drag him to the Civil Affairs Bureau if I have to.] After sending it, Song Xintan asked: [Satisfied with the answer?]
Xu Qinghe teased him: [Barely.]
Song Xintan asked: [You're in the mood to message me today. Guess you haven't been complained about lately.]
Xu Qinghe: "..."
Xu Qinghe: [When are you coming back? After I get the certificate, I'll treat you to a meal.]
Song Xintan: [Back before the New Year. Still haven't decided on the exact day.]
Song Xintan: [Seriously going to confess? Finally showing some backbone.]
Xu Qinghe realized he didn't believe at all that she and Shi Wenli were getting the certificate. He thought she was planning to confess that day. [I really am together with Shi Wenli. Our department head set us up. Shi Wenli doesn't know I like him.]
Song Xintan: [!! Are you sure you're not kidding me?]
Xu Qinghe: [When have I ever joked about Shi Wenli with you?] She sent him a screenshot of her parents congratulating her on getting the certificate from the family group chat. Only then did Song Xintan believe it. [Then I'll come back early and go to Yonghe Temple to fulfill a vow for you.] After congratulating her, he congratulated himself: [Finally, I'm out of misery. I won't have to listen to you going on about Shi Wenli every day anymore. A few days ago, when I had nothing to do, I suddenly realized I knew everything about Shi Wenli by heart. I don't even know my dad that well. Such an unfilial son.]